Method and apparatus for spot welding



Feb. 25, 1947. p BRUNBERG 2,416,374

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SPOT WELDING Original Filed Oct. 9, 1941 ,0 A I 1 "7/12? 1i" INVENTOR. Eu? ,fifianberg @W,M,M*W

Patented Feb. 25, 1947 METHGD AND APPARATUS FOR SPOT WELDING PaulE. Brunberg, Detroit, Mich., assignor, by direct and mesne assignments, of forty-five one-hundredths Detroit, Mich.

to Nita Carol Brunberg,

Original application October 9, 1941, Serial No.

414,259, new Patent No. 2,329,977, dated September 21, 1943.

Divided and this application September 4, 1942, Serial No. 457,345

3 Claims.

This invention relates to a method and apparatus for spot welding and has particularly to do with a cooling and protecting arrangement for electrodes.

In spot welding tool preservation has long been a problem. Tools oxidize and must be cleaned over and over again. Furthermore the excessive heat of the welding contributes to the tool break down.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a tool design and apparatus which protects the tool against oxidation and excessive heat by a simple expedient.

Further objects of the invention will appear as the description progresses.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 illustrates a sectional view of a tool constructed according to this invention showing diagrammatically a gas circuit.

Figure 2 is a sectional view on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view on line 3-3 of Figure 1.

The subject matter to be described and claimed herein is taken from my prior and copending applications, Serial No. 390,226 and 414,259 filed, respectively, April 25, 1941, and October 9, 1941. This application is a continuation in part of the former application and a division of the latter, Which is now Patent No. 2,329,977, dated September 21, 1943.

In Figure l the electrode is shown generally as an L shaped member 10. It is composed of two members H and I2 separated by insulation l3 and held together by clamping bolts l4. One leg of the L is provided for connection to suitable cables at l5 and H3. The other leg of the L is provided with a central opening [1, passing all the way through. The operating end I8 is drilled out and insert 19 is held therein either by threading or the clamping action of bolts l4. Insert I9 is provided with a contact tip 22'! and holes 2| lead from a central bore 22 which registers with the opening H. In the main tool at the other end of the opening I1 is a connection 25 and a tube 26 leading to a gas tank 21. A valve 28 controls the outlet of the gas tank and valve 29 is arranged to control the entrance of gas into the connection 25. A restriction 30 is provided at the entrance of opening ll.

Around the operating tip 25 is an inclosing member 3| for directing gas from outlets 2| to the tip of the tool and the work contacted by the tool.

The opening in restriction 30 is preferably made by a drill around size for pressure in tank 21 of to pounds. Gas'used in tank 21. is preferably carbon dioxide ((302). In operation the valve 28 may be arranged so that when the tool tip 21? comes in contact with the Work and power is applied the valve 29 will be open to permit gas to flow in the chamber I1 and out of ports 2!. The other contact tool will, of course, have the same construction. As the gas passes through restriction 3i! it expands into chamber l1, after which it passes from the outlets 2| to the inclosing member 3|. A refrigerating effect is noticed as the gas passes from the high pressure through the restriction 30 and likewise out of ports 2|. Since the gas is a non-oxidizing gas it will envelope the tool tip and the work and prevent oxidation during the operation. The effect, therefore, is not only to cool the tool but to prevent destruction, thereof, between heat and oxidation which would otherwise occur.

Various other pressures and restrictions may be used as long as a suitable refrigerating efiect is obtained. The outlet ports 2| are, of course, larger in area than the restriction 30.

An important object and feature of the invention is the cooling effect on the work between the electrodes. Gas expanding from ports 2| has a refrigerating effect not only on the tool tip but also on the work between the tips. This is extremely important especially in the case of aluminum welding. Without substantial cooling immediately following the Weld, destructive grain changes are evident which weaken the resulting structure.

I claim:

1. A method of cooling and protecting the electrode and work in spot welding which comprises conducting during passage of the welding current compressed, non-oxidizing gas to the interior of a hollow electrode, permitting partial expansion of the gas within the electrode to obtain a cooling of the electrode body, conducting the gas further to the tip of the tool and discharging the same to atmosphere thus permitting further expansion and directing the same toward the work at the tool to cool the tool and the work by reason of the refrigerating efiect of the further expansion.

2. A welding electrode unit, comprising a body with a hollow interior, a supply line providing a refrigerant connection With said hollow interior near the outer end of the electrode by means of a very small orifice which permits the first stage expansion of said refrigerant to cool the electrode and said electrode unit having a welding tip with a hollow interior connecting with the hollow interior of the body of the electrode and having one or more restrictive jet openings directed toward the work andithe welding area and arranged in cooperation with the unit to direct and confine refrigerant passing through the openings to. the environment of the tip and weld, the area of said jet opening or openings being somewhat larger than the inlet orifice at the other end of the electrode to permit a second-stage expansion to cool the tip, the Weld, and, with the use or" a neutral fluid as a refrigerant, providing a non oxidizing atmosphere around'the tip and the weld during the Welding operation to thereby prevent oxidization of the tool and the work.

3. A welding electrode, comprising a body with a hollow interior, a supply line providing, a refrigerant connection with said hollow interior near the outer end of the electrode by means of" a very small orifice which permits the first-stage expansion of said refrigerant to cool the electrode and said electrode having a welding tip with a hollow interior connecting with the hollow interior of the body of the electrode and having one or more restrictive jetopem'ngsleading toward the workand the welding area, the areaoi 4 said jet opening or openings being somewhat larger than the inlet orifice at the other end of the electrode to permit a second-stage expansion to cool the. tip, the weld and With, the use of a neutral fluid as a refrigerant providing a nonoxidizing atmosphere around the tip and the weld during the welding operation to thereby prevent oxidization of the tool and the work and means arranged around the tip to the outside of and cooperating with the jet opening or openings to direct and confine the gas to the environment of the tip and weld.

PAUL E. BRUNBERG.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2 ,231,335 Somes Apr. 28, 1942 1,281,454 White Oct. 15, 1913 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 40,610 France Apr. 26, 1932 

